• Former Portlander, now New Yorker, RACHEL GRIFFIN is one of 25 artists on a new CD of BRUCE HORNSBY covers, available for free download at salivatecd.com. Throw them a donation for ALS research while you're there.

• AMOS LIBBY (OKBARI) and MATT SCHREIBER (CINDER CONK) have a new project they're calling MALANDRINO, which will focus on folk songs from the "Mezzogiorno," or "Land of the Noonday Sun," which is southern Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia. Says Libby: "These songs tell the story of a culture that has often been voiceless in the face of poverty and alienation with simple but arresting melodies and heart-wrenching lyrics." First gig is June 11 at Blue, in Portland.

• DARIEN BRAHMS has officially started fundraising on Kickstarter for her fifth solo record, which will comprise songs she's written since the excellent Number 4, a time that has featured jaw-reconstruction surgery (ouch!). She's looking to put together $5000 and record at the STUDIO with STEVE DROWN. Deadline for donations is August 2. The disc should be done by spring 2012.